By: BAC Apprentices(Carmen Chen Chinq Lih, Lai Jing Yen, Geethannchali Selvajothee, Logesan Vijayanthran, Ee Soon Nam & Yogadevi Gobi Krishnan)We have all heard over the last year that we should be ready for the “new normal.” It is unclear though, what that entails. Everyone, including professionals and graduates, are feeling the pinch due to the pandemic. Some professionals had to put their career goals on hold as they coped with these unprecedented times, while some have had their career advancement come to a halt.For graduates, job prospects have dwindled, and getting a job seems to be more difficult than before, owing to uncontrollable factors such as business and industry disruptions.This pandemic is not ending anytime soon. But we remain hopeful that more people can get their vaccinations to achieve herd immunity for the industries to open. It is pivotal now to ask yourself what you can do to seize and have control over your career.Read on to find out more.Digitalisation of WorkDigitalisation of WorkAs offices are now forced to work from home, it is important that you are proficient with technology to get the job done. It may be as simple as writing an email. Moreover, spending your time sharpening your skills and proficiencies in different areas and skillsets through online courses such as LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, or Forage, may land you your next job opportunity. Employers are very welcoming towards prospective employees who are keen learners and could bring something different to the table.AdaptabilityAdaptabilityThe quest for personal and professional growth is one of the best ways to achieve career success. It is imperative to have a peer whom you trust to advise, encourage, and hold you accountable for your personal goals and achievements. There is an African Proverb which is very apt, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” How you cultivate what you learnt is through practice. You can do this by engaging in a virtual learning community of practice with like-minded professionals also looking to learn. While a virtual setting lacks the in-person element, it enables you to easily adapt to different learning methods and interact with people with different personalities virtually. This involves building connection with individuals who would otherwise be difficult to access in person.IdeationIdeationAscertain opportunities where you can make the biggest impact. Be flexible in your career paths. Having a law degree does not imply that you are set only to become a lawyer. Law graduates, for example, can do more than just legal work. They can venture into journalism, marketing, and public relations. Let your beliefs and transferrable skills, rather than your prior experience, guide you while you navigate into future ventures. Life often takes you by surprise!To sum this up, there will be more professionals and graduates that may have the opportunity to progress in careers they genuinely enjoy. As Antonia Gramsci once said, a “crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.” In many respects, the last year has been difficult and distressing- yet we remain hopeful that it will bring on something better.Sources: https://hbr.org/2021/04/reshaping-your-career-in-the-wake-of-the-pandemic https://blog.movingworlds.org/social-impact-career-covid/ https://blog.movingworlds.org/virtual-learning-best-practices/
